Chapter 75
Chapter 75
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Fate (1)
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"Lee Yoo-jin."
"...Yes."
"Wasn't blowing up one hospital room yesterday enough for you?"
"...I'm sorry."
"It's only been a single day, and yet how...?"
He trailed off, intending to say something like, how could you cause another incident?
But seeing my right arm completely encased in a cast, Kang Cheol-su couldn't continue.
"Haa."
Finally giving up on finishing his sentence, he let out a deep sigh, rubbed his dry face, and leaned back heavily into the recliner.
Then, loosening the same black tie from yesterday, he looked at me with his fatigue-ridden face.
"Lee Yoo-jin, I was on my way to pay respects to my fallen comrades. Then suddenly, I got a call. The academy had been attacked."
Kang Cheol-su picked up the coffee mug on the table.
"I was almost at the funeral hall, so I figured I'd pay my respects first before heading back. After all, there are heroes stronger than me at the academy right now, and even the Principal had returned from his trip. But then they urgently summoned me specifically."
Kang Cheol-su brought the mug to his lips.
He downed the steaming hot coffee in one gulp.
His face remained unfazed as he set the empty mug down on the table with a clink and continued.
"The attack happened at our class building. So, as the instructor in charge, I had to rush back."
Kang Cheol-su glanced at his Smart Watch as he spoke.
"So I hurried back to the academy, and sure enough, the sparring room in our class's training hall was completely wrecked, just like the summons said. And there you were, getting treated by the nurse instructor."
His gaze shifted from the Smart Watch to me.
Under that look that said speak if you have something to say, I broke out in a cold sweat and bowed my head.
And just as I was about to shout my sincerest apology...
"Do you know what my first thought was in that situation?"
Kang Cheol-su chuckled softly.
"Thank goodness. The academy hadn't been attacked again. And my student wasn't seriously hurt."
"......"
I couldn't say a word.
I just stared blankly at Kang Cheol-su.
Seeing that, he quietly rose from his chair.
"Lee Yoo-jin, don't take it too hard."
Kang Cheol-su placed a hand on my shoulder as he spoke.
"You caused another incident today on top of yesterday, but no one got hurt except you."
"...I-Instructor."
"You dragged me here with another mess today on top of yesterday, but I'm not mad."
"...Instructor?"
"Of course not... my own student... how could I get... angry?"
As he said that, he looked down at me with what seemed like the gentlest(?) expression in the world.
But contrary to his words, his teeth were gritted.
And the hand gripping my shoulder was gradually tightening.
Cold sweat trickled down as I looked up at Kang Cheol-su with an awkward smile.
"Instructor, my shoulder feels like it's about to shatter..."
In truth, Aegis had absorbed the damage, so I was fine.
Checking Aegis's info, the damage absorption was rising rapidly.
"...Oops."
Kang Cheol-su hurriedly released his grip.
With a flustered face, he pulled a red recovery potion from his subspace ring.
"Lee Yoo-jin! Is your shoulder okay?!"
He uncorked the horrific thing and tried to force it into my mouth.
"I'm fine. So could you please put that potion away?"
"...You're really okay? You're not just lying because you hate the potion?"
...I do hate potions, sure.
"No lie. Look."
I rotated my left arm to show my shoulder was unharmed.
"See? Perfectly fine."
"...It is."
Kang Cheol-su sighed in relief and recorked the potion.
He stored it back in his subspace ring and gently patted my shoulder.
"Really glad. That I didn't crush your shoulder."
That made me wonder.
Could even Instructor's Crush be blocked by Aegis?
Would it break from damage absorption, or fatal damage absorption?
As I pondered, an alarm rang from Kang Cheol-su's Smart Watch.
His gaze shifted to it.
"Lee Yoo-jin, the Principal is summoning you."
It notified me that the grand sorcerer had called.
"The Principal?"
The Principal, as hard to see as the Chairman, was suddenly summoning me?
Ah, maybe because the protective magic on the sparring room got broken?
Given his kindly nature, it wasn't to scold me.
Probably to ask how I broke the protective magic at my level.
Or maybe to explain why he can't see that 'fate' from orientation?
With eager anticipation, I asked Kang Cheol-su.
"When should I go?"
"Now."
"Pardon?"
As I asked again, a blue light flashed around my body.
In the blink of an eye, the location changed.
"This place is..."
I looked around.
Piles of books stacked high.
Bookshelves floating in the air above them.
The shelves were packed tight with books, no empty spaces.
But their number was impossible to count.
And the space containing all these books and shelves was vast beyond measure in width and height.
I knew this place.
"...The Infinite Library."
It was the special space of Arena Academy's Principal and grand sorcerer, Yubak.
"Ho ho, welcome to my library."
A voice from above.
Lifting my head, I saw him.
The grand sorcerer Yubak was descending, his white robe fluttering.
"First, I should apologize to the child. I said we'd meet soon, yet it's taken this long."
I wanted to retort, You said you'd tell me the secret soon, but made me wait five months? That's too much!
But facing a transcendent being far older than me who was sincerely apologizing, I couldn't voice my inner thoughts.
So I just laughed it off and said it was fine.
"Ho ho, what a deep-minded child."
Yubak nodded with a pleased smile and lightly swung the wand in his hand.
The piled books parted, creating space, and an antique table with two chairs appeared where there was nothing.
"Come, sit."
As Yubak approached the table, the two chairs slid out as if pulled by an invisible hand.
We sat, and the chairs floated slightly, maintaining the perfect distance for tea.
"Child, do you like tea?"
I prefer cola or sodas over tea.
"Yes, I like it."
But right now, tea it is.
"That's fortunate."
As Yubak spoke, a tea set appeared on the table.
One cup before me, one before Yubak, positioned automatically.
Pour, pour.
A jade-green antique teapot floated up and poured tea into Yubak's cup and mine.
The color's unusual.
I'm no tea expert, but I've never seen tea this milky white.
"Go on, try it."
Yubak lifted his cup with refined, concise elegance.
He sipped quietly, without a slurping sound.
Imitating him, I did the same.
...What's this? The tea's not hot?
Aren't you supposed to drink tea hot?
Puzzled by the coolness in my hand, I still took a sip.
What is this taste? Sweet? No, more like bitter?
The color was odd, and the flavor subtle.
But the more I drank, the better it seemed.
Still..., something felt off.
My heart's getting hot?
After drinking about half the milky tea, heat began building around my heart.
It wasn't uncomfortable or unpleasant.
If anything, it felt good?
Anyway, the pleasant warmth spread from my heart throughout my body as I drank.
The moment I finished the milky tea...
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have consumed Pure Azure Oil (A). Pure Azure Oil's effect: Magic Power +15. Pure Azure Oil's effect: Special ability 'Magic Resistance' has been created. "...Huh?"
A system message appeared in my vision: Magic Power increased.
...What? So the tea I drank was an elixir?
I stared blankly at the empty cup.
Then I looked up at Yubak.
"Did you like the tea?"
Yubak chuckled and set down his cup.
I shot up from my chair and bowed deeply before him.
"Thank you! Truly, thank you!"
I'd been struggling with low Magic Power, and here he served me an elixir as tea!
"Ho ho."
Yubak smiled proudly.
"I'm glad you liked it. Makes me happy."
Liked it? All the resentment and disappointment from five months vanished.
"Now, rise."
I stood straight at his words.
"More tea?"
"If you're offering, I'd love some!"
I quickly sat back down.
Of course, elixirs don't stack on repeat use.
But that didn't matter.
The moment I realized the tea was an elixir, it became a delicacy.
Pour, pour.
Pure Azure Oil refilled my empty cup.
And beside my cup, a small glass vial with a stopper appeared.
"Principal, this is...?"
"A gift for a child who likes tea."
I appraised the vial with the system.
'Pure Azure Oil (A)' info appeared in my vision.
Effects matched the messages I'd just seen.
"Thank you! Really, thank you!"
I expressed my overwhelming gratitude to Yubak and stored the Pure Azure Oil in my inventory.
Got a new elixir. Should share with the others next time we meet.
Infinite items are the best.
Acquire one, and everyone's strength rises together.
I smiled proudly and sipped the Pure Azure Oil.
&
&
&
After tea time ended.
"Child, aren't you curious? Why I called you here."
Yubak finally got to the main topic.
"Yes, I am. Why did you summon me?"
"Do you remember five months ago, orientation day?"
"Yes, I remember."
How could I forget?
He suddenly whispered in my ear, I can't see your fate.
"Good, you remember."
Yubak chuckled kindly and raised his wand.
He swung it lightly at the air.
Towers of books and floating shelves vanished.
More precisely, everything except me and Yubak disappeared, leaving only darkness.
In that darkness, Yubak swung his wand again.
A small starry spectacle twinkled above our heads.
What is he doing?
I looked at Yubak curiously.
But Yubak ignored me, conducting with his wand like an orchestra leader.
The twinkling stars descended gradually.
They slowly gathered, forming eight silhouettes total.
One silhouette was a familiar form.
"...Chairman?"
It was none other than the War God, Baek Yu-hwa.
"Yes, correct. That's the Chairman."
Yubak clasped his hands behind his back and stood beside me.
He pointed with his wand from left to right, naming them.
"The leftmost figure, as you know, is the War God Baek Yu-hwa. And next to him..."
Yubak paused.
Actually, he was speaking, but I couldn't hear it.
"Um, Principal? I can't hear what you're saying."
Yubak raised his wand and swung it somewhere.
Boom──!
A loud explosion echoed from somewhere.
Immediately, Yubak swung again.
A blue barrier formed around us.
"Now it should be clear."
Yubak pointed his wand at the figure next to Baek Yu-hwa.
"This muscular man with a lion's mane hair and massive greatsword is called 'Hercules.'"
Can you hear me now? Yubak added.
"Yes, clearly."
"Good."
Yubak smiled and continued naming.
The man with short hair, lean muscles, and dual daggers: 'Bolt'.
The woman with bobbed hair to her neck holding a staff: 'Mana'.
The plump man with a large bag: 'Baek'.
The woman wearing a feathered helmet: 'Run'.
The man with short hair like Bolt holding twin pistols: 'Chaser'.
The woman with very long hair holding talismans: 'Slo'.
Having named all, Yubak's wand pointed back at Baek Yu-hwa.
"Heavenly Demon."
Then turned to me.
"Cheater."
"......"
A chill ran down my spine.
I instinctively stepped back.
Yubak stared straight at me.
"I call them collectively."
Those whose fate cannot be seen.
"And those who came from outside."
His white eyes, seeming to pierce all, met mine.
"As I said at orientation, those whose fate is invisible fall into two categories."
Yubak's wand pointed at the War God.
The stars forming him sparkled brightly.
"They become guardians."
Then at the seven figures.
Their stars flashed red.
"Or usurpers."
The wand pointed at me.
"So, child, answer me."
Bright light like the War God's flowed from my body.
"Are you the fate for us?"
Then red light like the seven flowed out.
"Or the vessel for usurpation?"